As Joe Navarro steps onto the stage the Italian-American is almost everything you expect from a former FBI agent. Despite the early start, he’s smartly turned out in a suit covering a physique that would put me to shame despite a 20-year age difference. And the standard issue neatly trimmed ‘short back and sides’ may as well have ‘property of the FBI’ razored into the hairline.

What is unexpected, however, is a hearty smile and friendly disposition. Navarro turns out to be a genuinely funny fella but, after being face to face with some of the people that he has, a roomful of attentive-looking poker players is bound to make you grin from ear to ear. That said Ray Liotta’s line from Goodfellas about how your killers always come with a smile doesn’t leave my jetlagged head until well after my dictaphone is switched off.

The science

There are two parts of the brain when it comes to poker: the Neo Cortex (thinking brain) and the Limbic System (emotional brain). The Neo Cortex does your poker calculations and decision-making, but unfortunately there’s no escaping from the Limbic brain. It’s the freeze/fight/flight mechanism that has kept you and your ancestors alive for centuries.

‘The brain controls everything you do,’ says Navarro. ‘Every scratch or sideways glance isn’t accidental, it’s the brain acting. If you sit up straight it’s because the brain tells you to.’ Navarro says that spotting these non-verbal tells is what separates the great from the good.

Your success in ‘decoding non-verbal tells’ relies on:
1. Your ability to observe behaviour.
2. Your ability to decode and interpret.
3. Ineptness of other players to conceal.

‘Watch how the other players act. It’s embarrassing how much you’re giving away,’ says Navarro with incredulity.

Stress

When the brain sees something it doesn’t like it says, ‘Do something to pacify me.’ This could be scratching the nose, stroking the neck or being uncommonly talkative. ‘If someone bets and then suddenly starts yapping on they may as well be sending up a rocket saying they’re bluffing. It’s a pacifying action in the same manner that you whistle when walking down a dark alleyway,’ explains Joe.

Tight-lipped

When someone tightens their lips it’s a sign that they’re in disagreement with something. Depending on when you see those luscious lips purse you’ll be able to spot if they don’t like their cards, the flop or the bet that you’ve just played. If you see it happen when a third diamond arrives on the river you can safely say that they’ve not got the flush.

Engage!

The body will prepare itself for action in a number of ways and if you spot an opponent’s torso leaning forward showing more of their arm than usual there’s a very good chance they’ll act. And if you see a slight flaring of their nostril it’s a sure thing that they’re getting ready to bet or raise. ‘You oxygenate before doing something physical, so if you’re sitting on the button and you see the small blind’s nostrils flare it’s a big clue that they’re not going to fold,’ says Joe.

Gravity defying

Any upward movement is a good indication of a strong hand whether that’s in speech, body posture or the way that chips are tossed in. If you see someone’s eyebrows raise when the flop comes out it’s because they see something that they like. If the eyebrow arches with 7-J-10 on the flop you have to think they’ve filled the straight.

The mouth

Your gob gives away a lot, even if you remain mute at the table. Biting, licking or touching the lips are pacifying acts and huge flags that the player doesn’t like the situation they’re in. Genuine smiles can’t be faked so when you face an all-in raise delivered with a beaming smile, look to see if the eyes are smiling as well. If they’re not… CALL!

Erratic activity

‘The limbic system doesn’t know how to handle the excitement of having a great hand in a great situation and the body will often react erratically,’ explains Joe. Look for more chip activity when betting and random movement, such as a sudden grab for a drink.

Honest feet

The feet and hands are the most honest part of the body while the face has been taught to lie. If the body is happy the feet will often dance. If you see the feet or hands jiggling there’s a good chance an opponent’s got a monster hand!

Clusters

Look for clusters of information as a single sign of high confidence can be faked, but if there are two or three signs then it’s likely to be genuine. If you see conflicting tells of strong and weak confidence the true sentiment will usually be the better. Unless you’ve got complete rags it’s a good time to go over the top.

Catalogue

The best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour so keep watching even when you’re not involved in a hand.

Conceal

‘Develop a methodology of acting that you do each time you receive your cards or bet. This procedure alone will save you money,’ says Navarro, who claims that if you minimise the number of tells that you spew out, not only will you be giving out less information but people will tire of looking at you.